Mills County Dissolution of Marriage Records
Mills County dissolution of marriage records are kept at the District Clerk's office in Goldthwaite, Texas. The office handles all family law case filings for the county, including divorces and dissolutions. If you need to search for a past case, request a certified copy of a final decree, or look up a cause number, the Goldthwaite courthouse is where you start. Records go back to 1887 and can be accessed in person, by mail, or through the statewide re:SearchTX portal for online case lookups.
Mills County Overview
Mills County District Clerk
The Mills County District Clerk is in the county courthouse at 1011 4th Street in Goldthwaite. The office handles all dissolution of marriage filings for the county. Staff can search records by party name or cause number and issue copies of case documents. The office is open Monday through Friday and closes at 4:30 PM each day.
Mills County is a small rural county in the 35th Judicial District in Central Texas. It borders the Hill Country region. The county has one courthouse in Goldthwaite, which handles all family law matters. If you or your spouse lives in Mills County and meets the state residency rule, this is where you file for divorce. The county website is at co.mills.tx.us.
| Office | Mills County District Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 1011 4th St. Goldthwaite, TX 76844 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 646 Goldthwaite, TX 76844 |
| Phone | (325) 648-2711 |
| Fax | (325) 648-3865 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.mills.tx.us |
Searching Mills County Divorce Records
You can look up Mills County dissolution of marriage records in person at the Goldthwaite courthouse, by mail request to the District Clerk, or online through the statewide re:SearchTX system. If you are coming from out of the area, it is worth calling ahead at (325) 648-2711 before making the trip since this is a small rural office.
The re:SearchTX portal covers all Texas district courts and is free to use. You can search by party name or cause number and see docket entries and case status. This is often the easiest first step when you are not sure of the cause number or exact filing date. Once you find the case details, you can contact the clerk directly.
For mail requests, write to P.O. Box 646, Goldthwaite, TX 76844. Include both party names, the approximate year of filing, the cause number if you have it, payment for fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the response. Non-certified copies cost less than certified ones.
For any records search, have ready:
- Full name of at least one party
- Year of filing or approximate divorce date
- Cause number if available
- Photo ID when picking up certified copies in person
The Mills County official website provides county office information including the District Clerk's contact details in Goldthwaite.
Check the Mills County website before contacting the office to confirm current hours and the best way to submit your records request.
Divorce Filing Process in Mills County
Filing for divorce in Mills County follows Texas Family Code Chapter 6. Every document filed becomes part of the case record. The District Clerk in Goldthwaite holds all those records throughout the case and after the final decree is signed.
The residency requirement under Section 6.301 applies here as it does statewide. One spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Mills County for at least 90 days before filing. If you meet the rule here, you can file in Goldthwaite even if the other spouse has moved elsewhere.
Texas allows no-fault divorce under Section 6.001 on the insupportability ground. You state that the marriage has broken down due to conflict or discord with no chance of repair. No proof of wrongdoing is needed. Fault grounds like cruelty, adultery, or abandonment are also available if they apply to your situation.
The case starts when you file the Original Petition for Divorce with the District Clerk and pay the filing fee. The other spouse gets served with papers or signs a waiver. If both agree on all terms, an uncontested agreed divorce can often be resolved more efficiently. Contested cases may require additional hearings, mediation, or a full trial before the judge signs the Final Decree of Divorce.
60-Day Wait: Under Texas Family Code Section 6.702, a divorce cannot be granted until 60 days have passed from the filing date. This applies in Mills County just as in every other Texas county. Limited exceptions exist for family violence cases.
Mills County Dissolution Records Overview
A dissolution of marriage file in Mills County contains the Original Petition for Divorce, service or waiver documents, financial disclosures, any temporary or agreed orders, and the Final Decree of Divorce. Cases with children also include conservatorship orders, possession schedules, and child support terms based on Texas Family Code guidelines.
The Final Decree of Divorce is the signed order that ends the marriage. It contains all the terms the court has approved: property and debt division, any spousal maintenance, and if children are involved, the full custody and support arrangement. Certified copies of the decree are used for name changes, property updates, insurance changes, and other post-divorce legal matters.
Most records at the Mills County District Clerk's office are public. You do not need to have been involved in the case to request copies. Court-sealed documents, records about minor children, and financial materials submitted under seal may have restricted access. The clerk will tell you if any restriction applies to the file you are asking about.
Divorce verification letters for records from 1968 to 2006 are available through Texas DSHS Vital Statistics. These letters confirm a divorce took place but do not include the full decree text.
Online Access to Mills County Divorce Cases
The re:SearchTX portal is the primary free online resource for searching Mills County dissolution of marriage records. It pulls live data from Texas district courts, including the 35th Judicial District that covers Mills County. You can search by party name or cause number and view docket entries at no cost.
For small rural counties like Mills, re:SearchTX is typically the only online access point for court records. Use it to confirm a case exists and find the cause number. Then call or write to the Goldthwaite courthouse to request certified copies.
For historical records from 1968 through 2006, the DSHS verification letter service at dshs.texas.gov is a quick way to confirm a past divorce. These letters confirm the event but do not include the full case file or decree details.
The re:SearchTX portal provides free statewide access to Mills County dissolution of marriage case records filed in the 35th Judicial District.
Search re:SearchTX by name to find Mills County divorce cases before reaching out to the District Clerk in Goldthwaite for certified copies.
Legal Help in Mills County
Mills County residents who need legal help with a dissolution of marriage can contact Legal Aid of Central Texas, which serves the region and handles family law cases for qualifying residents. Their number is (800) 777-8561 and their website is lawcentral.org. Because Mills County is rural, many residents find online resources especially useful.
TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has free self-help guides and official court forms in English and Spanish. The site walks through each step of the divorce process and covers scenarios like agreed divorces, service by publication when a spouse cannot be found, and cases involving children. The State Bar referral line is at (800) 252-9690, and attorneys can be found at texasbar.com.
All official Texas divorce forms are posted at txcourts.gov. These forms are accepted at the Mills County courthouse. The Texas Court Help website at texascourthelp.gov also has guides for people navigating Texas courts without an attorney, including what to bring to a final divorce hearing.
The Texas DSHS Vital Statistics office provides divorce verification letters for Mills County records from 1968 through 2006.
Order a DSHS verification letter online when you need to confirm a past divorce quickly without waiting for a certified copy from the Goldthwaite courthouse.
Cities in Mills County
Goldthwaite is the county seat of Mills County and the location of the District Clerk's office. All dissolution of marriage cases in the county are filed and handled at the Mills County District Court in Goldthwaite.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Mills County. Confirm which county you live in before filing. You must meet the 90-day residency rule in the county where you file for divorce under Texas law.